Checking device for lunch-counters, &amp;c.



PATENTED MAR..1 '7, 1908 J. c. MALONBY. CHECKING DEVICE FOR LUNCH OO-UNTERSJz'o.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25,1907.

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JAMES C. MALONEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHECKING DEVICE FOR LUNCH-COUNTERS, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed. April 25, 1907. Serial No. 370,275.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. MALONEY, a citizen of the United States, resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Checking Devices for Lunch- Counters, &c.; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention as applied. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional. detail view showing the operation of the clamping jaws with relation to the check or ticket.

The invention has relation to ticket checking devices for lunch counters, soda fountains, and similar purposes, and it consists in the novel. construction and combinations or parts as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to prevent fraud in lunch and dining rooms by keeping a record of each transaction in sight, and preventing two or more tickets or checks being issued for the same meal.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a designates a case or box, the lower portion or base having a drawer or receptacle 1), which is provided with a lock and key.

The top wall 0, of the case is provided with an elongated opening or mouth d, into which the ticket c is designed to be inserted, said ticket having a stub f, which passes entirely into the case through the mouth.

The lower portion of the mouth inside the wall is provided with a stationary jaw g, having teeth It, extending in series along its length. jaw is a movable jaw 7t, also having teeth extending in series along its lower edge and adapted to engage the teeth h of the stationary jaw in such wise that their points enter the channel 7c, of the lower jaw between the points of its teeth. The two jaws g, and h, have beveled edges. The movable jaw is provided with a guard m, to assist the jaws in holding the stub of the ticket in vertical exposed position. The ends of the movable jaw work in guide ways p, and it is provided with guide bars 3, which engage apertures in In horlzontal alinement with this the rear of the casing. Springs t, around such guide bars serve to hold the jaw it, down to its work. A central guide arm Q), located between the bars s,is also provided in connection with the movable jaw h, to engage a lever w, pivoted at u, and designed to enable the waiter or clerk to force the jaw it, away from the stationary jaw sufficiently to separate the teeth of these jaws for the admission of a ticket. This lever which projects at its power or operating end through a slot at, in the rear wall of the casing, has a cam end portion 1), engaging a roller 12 which proj ects laterally from the central guide arm 1;.

The front portion of the case is glazed, as at g, in order to close in the chamber 1', which receives the stub of theticket, sufliciently to prevent the latter from being readily taken out of the case. I

In this checking device there is by means of the stub f, in the casing, a permanent indi cation that a customer h as received his ticket or check, this stub remaining in sight of both customer and waiter until the customer has been served. The customer then takes his part of the check, and pays the cashier. Another check cannot be inserted into the mouth of this device until the waiter releases the stub of the ticket of the last customer waited upon, and when this stub is released it is designed to drop into the drawer in the base. This drawer is locked, the proprietor or audi tor having the key, and at any time he can, by counting the stubs, tell how many customers have been waited upon with this check device, also the amount of money the cashier should have in the cash drawer.

With this invention it is designed to prevent customers getting two or more checks with one meal, a matter of difficulty in large houses where many people are served in a short time. It also provides for keeping the check or ticket always in sight of both waiter and customer, and is designed to obviate loss from fraud or forgetfulness.

Having described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A ticket checking device including a case having an opening for insertion of the ticket, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including edged alined jaws, means for holding said jaws normally pressed towards each other and means for causing said jaws to separate from each other.

2. A ticket checking device including a case having an opening for insertion of the ticket, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including edged alined jaws, means for holding said jaws normally pressed towards each other and a lever device for separating said jaws.

3. A ticket checking device including a case having an opening in its top wall for insertion of the ticket and a slot in its rear wall, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including edged horizontally-alined jaws, spring means for holding said jaws normally pressed towards each other, and a lever device extending through said slot for temporarily separating said jaws.

4. A ticket checking device including a case having an opening for insertion of the ticket, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including beveled alined stationary and movable jaws, the movable jaw being provided with spring means for holding it normally pressed towards the fixed jaw, and a lever device, for temporarily holding said jaws separated against the action of said spring means.

5. A' ticket checking device including a case having an opening for insertion of the ticket, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including beveled alined stationary and movable jaws, the movable 'aw being provided with spring means for holding it pressed towards the stationary jaw, and an anti-friction roller, and a lever device having a cam portion engaging said roller for separating the jaws.

6. A ticket checking device, including a case having an opening for insertion of the ticket, clamping and indenting means for the ticket including a stationary jaw having a beveled and toothed edge and a horizontally alined movable spring-pressed jaw having a beveled edge and an anti-friction roller, and a lever device having a cam portion engaging said anti-friction roller for releasing such clamping and indenting means from the ticket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. MALONEY. Witnesses:

A. W. JOHNSTON, JOHN BENSON. 

